Reviews from owners of the 2007 Kia Rio

1 of 1
people found this review helpful

Tall guy loves tiny car

Bought used when my Aztec gave up the ghost. Took it for a test drive and fell in love with the acceleration and tight steering. It had 96,000 on it and now at 108,000 the only problem I had with it was two cylinder coils went out causing misfires (mildly annoying fix). I have to put the seat back since I'm 6'1", but its a very comfortable ride and I've taken it nonstop 500 mile trip on a single tank. With the seats down you can fit a 6-drawer Dresser, really the best car I've owned.

7 of 7
people found this review helpful

Great car, and i've had a few.

I wrote this because some people seem to exist to complain about cars every time the air is low in their tires. My '05 Kia Rio5 has been great, and I've only encountered things you would expect from an inexpensive car. It came to me used, from my mother's estate after she died a few years ago. It was low-mile, with the I4 and a 5-speed (ma always liked to row her own!). The LX is sporty, handles well, and the shifting is snappy and clean. Not a powerhouse, but what do you want from a sub-15k car? It's quick enough, and I learned that while off-the-line acceleration is not mind-bending, at-speed and lane-change acceleration is pretty darn good. Brakes are great, as I learned in San Francisco on the busy, hilly streets. Also, I've had two people hit me in this car (their fault both times), and after repairs the car still runs great. Now at 55k with a cross-country road trip under its belt, the Kia is still running great. In fact I only this week had one of the few off-schedule maintenance issues, a PCSV valve that's giving me a check-engine. Only replacements besides tires/oil have been two of the Coil-on-Plug units on the motor at about $50 each. I put them in myself, they're right on top of the motor and it's pretty easy. Even a shop couldn't charge you too much for the service. At 8 years, the only issues are some dry-rotted rear window seals from it's first 5 years in Arizona, and the chrome/plastic passenger door handle which is peeling. There's some increased body noise coming from the hatch area, and it's a bit squeaker overall than when new, but I think that for a budget car, it's been terrific. No electrical problems ever, which I hear is not the case with some newer Kias. Overall, I'm very very happy with this low-maintenance long-running car. Oh, fold-down rear seats in this hatchback provide ample room for stuffing things in the back. I've loaded this car to the roof many times, then driven her 12 hours straight. She runs great still!

4 of 4
people found this review helpful

120,000 on this "clown" car

AMAZING lil beast! Traded in a 2002 for it ... WAY happy with it. Done nothing to it other than normal maintenance. Just this year A/C needed recharging. STILL getting 48mpg.. UPDATE A/C not just a recharge, pump replaced, all parts needed, with SIX relays, it won't kick from the dash button. WTF????

2 of 3
people found this review helpful

Great car but...

I love my car, it gets great mileage and until recently it was very reliable.
I put 30-36K miles a year on my car and do a lot of stop and go driving.
I have over 166K on my car.
In the past 3 yrs we have had to replace 3 ignition coils, both O2 sensors and now we have to replace the catalytic converter.
She also tends to eat front tires.
Constantly out of alignment.
She has done very well overall and if possible will buy another Kia. Considering the kind of driving I do, she had held up very well.

5 of 5
people found this review helpful

Excellent car for the money

I bought my Rio5 new with 9km on it. I drove many comperable models from different mfg including Chev Aveo, Toyota, Dodge Caliber etc. I was impressed with the handling and jump for such a small car. I've had no issues with summer or winter driving. I've been religious with oil changes but haven't had to do anything major. Just recently at 70K did I have to replace the set of belts before a long trip. If I had to pick at something, it would be the OEM Kuho tires. My front set only lasted about 40K.
Warranty is great (8 yrs, 160K km) although nothing has gone wrong. Orig brakes still have 40-50% left on them and still getting close to 450km on 40L of gas.
An excellent car for the money!

Pros

Cons

Cruise control isn't available, automatic version slower than most rivals, some cheap plastic trim, front seats not comfortable for some.

What's New for 2007

All new last year, the Kia Rio sees minimal changes for 2007. New wheel designs and an illuminated ignition switch debut, as does a sporty SX version of the Rio sedan. Newly optional on the SX models are 16-inch wheels.

What's New for 2007

All new last year, the Kia Rio sees minimal changes for 2007. New wheel designs and an illuminated ignition switch debut, as does a sporty SX version of the Rio sedan. Newly optional on the SX models are 16-inch wheels.

Introduction

Competing in the decidedly non-glamorous world of the entry-level subcompact, the 2007 Kia Rio isn't the penalty box one might first assume. Although the first-generation Rio had little in its favor other than a long warranty, last year's rebirth of that model produced a car miles ahead of its forebear in terms of performance, driving dynamics, comfort and cabin refinement. With the new Rio, Kia's engineers and designers produced a small car that's pleasant to drive as well as loaded with features, especially those of the safety ilk.

For 2007, the Kia Rio family grows with the addition of the Rio SX four-door sedan. As with the Rio5 SX five-door (a four-door hatchback), the SX sedan features foglights, 15-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, metallic cabin accents, metal pedals and a black and red cabin theme. That means the Rio sedan comes in three trims  base, LX and SX  while the Rio5 comes only in the SX version. Most buyers will probably go with the LX sedan, as it's not a stripper like the base sedan and, at around $13,000, comes with essentials such as A/C, a CD player and a split/folding rear seat. In terms of style, the Rio5 with its European-flavored looks has it hands down over the more mainstream sedan and offers the additional cargo-carrying versatility of its roomy hatchback body. Regardless of which Rio you choose, the car comes with Kia's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Last year, the Rio was one of our top picks in the $11,000-$15,000 budget ride segment. But this year brings a couple of strong competitors in the form of the Honda Fit and Nissan Versa. The Fit is impressive in its materials, space efficiency and on-road demeanor, while the Versa promises strong performance and a roomy rear seat. If one is looking to keep spending at the lower end of the spectrum, the 2007 Kia Rio sedan is a solid contender against the likes of its platform mate, the Hyundai Accent, and the Chevy Aveo. Look toward the higher end, however, and the Fit and Versa loom as better choices.

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Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2007 Kia Rio subcompact four-door sedan comes in base, LX and SX trim levels, while the five-door Rio5 hatchback comes only in the SX trim. The base sedan is a stripper in most respects (manual steering, no air-conditioning and skinny 175/70R14 tires) but decently equipped in others (attractive cabin materials, driver-seat height adjustment, a tachometer and front-seat side airbags). Step up to the LX to get popular features such as air-conditioning, a CD player, power steering, a 60/40-split folding rear seat, a tilt steering wheel and meatier 185/65R14 tires. The sporty SX versions add foglights, 15-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, metallic interior trim, metal pedals, leather-wrapped steering wheel and a black-with-red-accents cabin theme. Options include the Power Package (which adds full power features, keyless entry and tweeter speakers) and 16-inch alloy wheels for the SX.

Powertrains and Performance

A 1.6-liter inline-4 with 110 horsepower and 107 pound-feet of torque powers every 2007 Kia Rio. All trims come standard with a five-speed manual transmission, while a four-speed automatic is optional on all but the base sedan. Although the Rio is more powerful than most of its competitors, its acceleration with the automatic is slightly subpar. A Rio5 SX we tested took 11.5 seconds to run to 60 mph. However, the automatic does provide swift, well-timed shifts. The manual-shift Rio is more sprightly and fun to drive, as one would expect. Either way, the engine gets noisy under full throttle but cruises quietly once up to freeway speeds. Fuel mileage ratings, at 32 mpg city/35 highway with the manual and 29/38 with the automatic, are above average for this class of vehicle.

Safety

The 2007 Kia Rio comes standard with front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and three-point belts in all seating positions. The LX and SX trims also come with adjustable rear headrests. Antilock disc brakes are optional on those higher trim levels as well. In NHTSA frontal-impact crash testing, the Rio scored four stars (out of five) for driver protection and five stars for passenger protection. In the side-impact test, the Rio earned four stars for front-occupant protection and three stars for the rear.

Interior Design and Special Features

The Rio's interior, especially in beige, has an airy feel typically lacking in this price bracket. The materials quality is generally above average, though a few of the plastics aren't up to Honda levels. Seat comfort is very good for most body types, though drivers over 6 feet tall may get fidgety after more than an hour behind the wheel. A fold-down armrest is standard for the driver, but we'd prefer a more traditional center console box that provides this feature for both front occupants along with handy storage space. In back, headroom is a bit tight for 6-footers, but legroom is fully adequate and the tall bench provides good thigh support.

Driving Impressions

The 1.6-liter provides decent low-end pull and the manual-transmission version offers enough thrust to merge into highway traffic with ease, although the engine gets noisy at higher rpm. Shifting the manual gearbox is enjoyable, thanks to the precise gates and smooth clutch. The automatic isn't as peppy, though its gearchanges are smooth and relatively quick. The Rio's ride is smooth and stable, and even at 75 mph, the cabin is hushed. The suspension isn't as composed over broken pavement as we'd like, though, as large impacts tend to shudder through the cabin. Pushed through corners, the Rio responds with predictable body roll and unexpectedly crisp steering.

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